Learn About Physical Science: Simple Machines

Reviewed by Carol Welch
Published by Sunburst

Age Group: Age 4 to 8
Type: Science
Price: $80 (School Version)

PC version requires:
Windows 95 or higher, 486/66, 8 MB RAM, 8 MB HD, 2x CD-ROM, sound card, 256 colors

Mac version requires:
68040, System 7.5 or higher, 8 MB RAM, 8MBHD, 2x CD-ROM, sound card, 256 colors

Description:

Learn About Physical Science: Simple Machines introduces students to simple machines, including levers, pulleys, wheels, screws, inclined planes and wedges. The program includes nine lessons about simple machines - how they work, how we use them in daily life and how they can be combined to form complex machines.

Features:

  • 9 lessons about simple machines
  • Quizzes at the end of each lesson
  • Word processor for taking notes
  • Songs to reinforce learning
  • Matching, sorting and fix it games
  • Printable certificate for lessons completed
  • Comprehensive Teacher's Guide with lessons and activities

Technical Aspects:

I installed this title on our Celeron 533 with Windows 98. There is no auto-run, so I loaded the program manually as per directions in the Teacher's Guide.

Colorful, cartoon-style graphics illustrate the different simple machines and how they work. The interface is quite easy to navigate. Professor Labco explains the interface completely during the introduction. Lessons are offered in on-screen text with an option of having the text read aloud. Hearing-impaired students could use this program easily.

Report and Conclusions:

My 9-year-old son was very eager to get started on this title, but quickly found it too easy. Having studied simple machines in the third grade, he found the title to be a good review, but not much more. However, my son did say that he thought the program would be ideal for students who have not learned about simple machines. In fact, he has taken on the task of using this program to teach his 6-year-old brother about the subject - an arrangement that is working out quite well!

I agree with my son that this is an ideal program for introducing simple machines. The explanations are very clear and have illustrations to support the lesson. Games and quizzes coincide directly with the lessons taught. I would recommend this title for use with second and third graders, either in the classroom or at home.




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